Means for treating type-writer ribbons.



O. OWENS. MEANS FOR TREATING TYPE WRITER RIBBONS.

APPLIGATION FILED SBPT.1, 1911.

1,0493139, Patented Dec. 31, 1912.

wwi'm 7/ MM7% carrying rollers HAZE-33 O rare F CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE.

JEANS FOR TREATING TYPE-WRITER new and useful Improvements in Means for Treating Type-Writer Ribbons, of which the following is aspecification.

The object of the invention is to provide means that will enable a typewriter operator to re-ink old ribbons or re-distribute the ink on such ribbons.

In practice the central portion of the ribbon is mostly used, and the ink here becomes exhausted or reduced, while along the sides of the ribbon a larger quantity of ink remains. By my invention the operator will be enabled to distribute over the ribbon a fluid which will take up the larger quantity lying along the edges or side portions of the ribbon, and distribute it evenly across the full surface so that the central portion will be re-inked for further use.

The invention consists in the features and combination and arrangement of parts herei inafter described and particularly pointed out in the claim. I

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device, and Fig. 2

a plan view.

In these drawings, 1 indicfittes ported upona suitable base to contain the fluid for acting upon the ink on the ribbon to take it up from the edges and flow it or distribute it over the middle portion of the ribbon. This tank contains a wick 2, upon which a roller 8 contacts, said roller being mounted in a bracket 4 attached to the tank or other suitable place, said bracket having arms extending away from each other and 5 and 6. The roller 5 is provided with a tension or retarding device consisting of a nut 7. on a screw-thrcaded rod 8 which passes through the roller and is screwed into the frame or supporting arm at 9, said rod acting as the shaft or hearing about which the roller 5 may turn, and a spring 10 being interposed between the nut and the side face or" the roller so as to apply a retaining pressure thereto. The other roller 6 is simply mounted on a pin 11 which is carried by the frame or bracket arm a, this roller being free to turn. The roller 3 is mounted on a shoulderscrew 12 which screwed into the frame or bracket At 13 is shown a suitable screw stopper which may be removed for filling the tank.

a tank sup- I Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed'september 1, 1911.

In the operation is wound drawn over the spring 10 Patented Dec. 31, 1912.

Serial no. 647,259.

of the device, the ribbon the spool or roller 5,.and is distributing roller '3, and

to the roller 6, and upon the retarding effect of the being adjusted to give the desired tension to the ribbon, and as this passes over the roller this roller, will take up it to the ribbon, so that be converted into such cause it to be distributed 3, it Will rotate the same so that being in contact with the wick, the fluid held thereby, and carry the ink therepn will a fluid state as will or to be flowed over the entire ribbon from edge to edge to thus supply th the ink. employed e worn or dry central portion with Any suitable inking means may be for the roller 6. It is the inten tion to take the spools that are alreadv on the typewriter and wind all of one spool the other most typewriter the ribbon on this spool to spool, it being understood that spools are provided with and then wind from winding means. It is important to note that the roller 5 is under ten ribbon th sion and when the winding force is roller 6, 1n order to wind the ereon, the rlbbon is drawn out at an angle over the roller 3 and from the roller 5 5, which is under restraint. Therefore the pull of the ribbon is frictionally upon the roller 3, but the wick 2 roller 3,

is in contact with the and as shown in Fig. 2, extends across said roller in line parallel with its axis. Th contact w is puts the roller 3 in frictional ith the wick so that there is a drag upon said roller, causing rubbing between the wick and roller. It will be borne in mind that as above explained, the design is to distrib will take the edges ute over the ribbon a fluid which up the larger quantity oi. ink along or side portions of the'ribbon and distribute it evenly over the entire surface which is margin, 0 ribbon.

d ra wi n g perfectly the wick.

function of This could not be the ribbon through necessary in order that the ribbon to its original condition as The even distribution requires be either an excess on the r lack in the central portions of the accomplished by a tank, but it is effected by the rubbing action of At the same time the capillhry the wick gives an even distribution in quality and quantity and together 11 with the impregna rubbing action restores the even tlon of the ribbon.

oeenso I claim as my invention: An apparatus for ire-inking the ribbon of a WP tank, a Wick th ewriting machine,

comprising an ink erein arranged to bear upon transferring ml to said Wick, upon by the 1'] ler mounted in fixed relation and arranged to be pressed ,bbon of a typewriting machine,

whereby the said roller is revolveci-by 10 direct action of the ribbon, and the ink is spread by the tension of the ribbon. Y

In testimony whereof, I afli'x my signature in presence of two Witnesses. v

CHARLES OWENQ Witnesses:

A. E. WILLIA soN, B. E. SIMON. 

